Method and apparatus for arresting a mandrel and tube discharged from a rolling mill



March 1, 1966 H FRBER METHOD AND APPARATUS FDR ARRESTING A MANDREL AND TUBE DISCHARGED FROM A RDLLING MILL Filed May 6, 1963 United States Patent O 3 237,440 METHOD AND APPAIIATUS FOR ARRESTING A MANDREL AND TUBE DISCHARGED FRM A ROLLING MILL Herbert Frber, Dusseldorf, Germany, assigner to Firma Schloemann Aktiengesellschaft, Dusseldorf, Germany Filed May 6, 1963, Ser. No. 278,103 Claims priority, application Germany, May 12, 1962, Sch 31466 Ib/7a 4 Claims. (Cl. 72-208) This invention relates to the handling of metal products and more particularly to a method and apparatus for arresting a mandrel and tube discharged from a rolling mill in such a manner as to properly position the mandrel and tube for transfer to an apparatus for withdrawing the mandrel from the tube.

In the continuous manufacture of tubes in a rolling mill, the tube and mandrel are discharged from the last roll stand of the mill at a relatively high rate of speed of the order of three to four meters per second. It is necessary to arrest the axial movement of the tube and mandrel prior to transferring the same to a mandrel withdrawing apparatus and the arresting of the movement of the tube and mandrel must be accomplished in a relatively short time and in as short a distance as possible in order to conserve space and also in order to maintain the necessary rate of production.

Heretofore the movement of the tube and mandrel has been arrested by discharging the same from the rolling mill into a discharge chute wherein the friction between the tube and the surface of the chute results in slowing and stopping the axial movement of the tube and mandrel. In many cases, however, the velocity of the tube is such that the same travels to the end of the chute and strikes a stop with the result that the mandrel moves axially within the tube, due to the inertia thereof and in some cases this results in the entire mandrel, including the reduced tongue and enlarged head on the end of the mandrel moving within the tube thereby preventing engagement with the head by the mandrel withdrawing means thereby increasing the time required to remove the mandrel from the tube. Furthermore, with this prior art arrangement the tube and mandrel frequently stop at different locations in the chute thereby complicating the problem of removing the tube and mandrel laterally from the chute and also in properly positioning the head on the mandrel to be engaged by the mandrel withdrawing apparatus. In other words, the point at which the mandrel and rod will come to rest in the chute cannot be predicted in advance, with the result that successive mandrels and rods deposited in the chute will stop at varying locations at random which materially complicates further necessary operations.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for arresting a mandrel and tube discharged from a rolling mill in a manner to stop the mandrel and tube at a predetermined location and with the head of the mandrel disposed exteriorly of the tube to facilitate subsequent withdrawal of the mandrel from the tube.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for arresting a mandrel and tube discharged from a rolling mill in which the arresting means for the mandrel includes shock absorbing means for reducing the 3,237,440 Patented Mar. 1, 1966 shock resulting from stopping axial movement of the mandrel.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for arresting a mandrel and tube discharged from a rolling mill in which the mandrel arresting means includes shock absorbing means -incorporating a cross bar for engaging the head on the mandrel together with means for moving the cross bar into and out of the path of movement of the head on the mandrel.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for arresting a mandrel and tube discharged from a rolling mill, including a roller conveyor for receiving the tube and mandrel from the rolling mill and in which certain of the rolls of the roller conveyor are driven by variable speed driving means.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for arresting a mandrel and tube discharged from a rolling mill, including means for positioning the tube axially with respect to the mandrel and for positioning both tube and mandrel in a position to facilitate lateral transfer thereof to a mandrel withdrawing apparatus.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a method for arresting a mandrel and tube discharged from a rolling mill.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. l is a side elevational view showing an apparatus for arresting a mandrel and tube discharged from a rolling mill and constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 an elevational view to an enlarged scale and showing the shock absorbing means for engaging and arresting axial movement of the mandrel; and

FIG. 4 a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3.

With continued reference to the drawing, there is shown the last roll stand 1 of a rolling mill from which a tube 6 and a mandrel 7 is discharged following completion of the rolling operation and for receiving the tube and mandrel from the rolling mill there is provided a plurality of supports 2 on which are rotatably mounted double coneshaped rollers 3. Certain of the rollers 3 are freely ro,- tatable on the supports 2, while certain other rollers 3 are driven by variable speed motors 5 or by other suitable variable speed driving means. The tube 6 and mandrel 7 are guided along the rolls 3 in Ian axial path by guideways 4 positioned between adjacent rolls 3 and disposed adjacent the roller conveyor is a more or less conventional lateral transfer means 8 which serves to transfer the tube 6 and mandrel 7 laterally from the roller conveyor to lateral conveying means 9 which serves to convey the tube 6 and mandrel 7 to an apparatus for withdrawing the mandrel 7 from the tube 6.

It is to be noted that as clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the mandrel 7 is provided at the trailing end thereof with a reduced elongated tongue 7a which terminates in an enlarged head 7b. In order to arrest axial movement of the mandrel 7, there is provided an arresting apparatus in the form of a base 11 disposed between two of the rol-ls 3 of the roller conveyor and in alignment with the path of movement of the tube 6 and mandrel 7 along the roller conveyor and pivotally mounted on brackets 12 and 13 on the base 11 are a pair of hydraulic shock absorbers |14 and 15 disposed on opposite sides of the tube 6 and mandrel 7 moving along the roller conveyor. A cross bar 20 connects the shock absorbers 14 and 15 and the cross bar 20 is provided with an upwardly opening recess 20a which is of a size to receive the reduced tongue 7a on the mandrel 7, but which is `smaller than the enlarged head 7b.

A pair of hydraulic cylinders 118 and 19 are pivotally mounted on brackets 16 and 17 secured to the base 1'1 and the piston rods 18a and 19al are pivotally connected to the shock absorbers 14 and 15 respectively. As clearly shown in FIG. 3, operation of the hydraulic lcylinders 18 and 19 will serve to move the shock absorbers 14 and and cross bar 20 carried thereby Afrom the dotted line position through an angle a, as indicated by the arrow, to the yfull line position, at which time the tongue 7a of the mandrel 7 is received in the recess 20a of the cross bar `20 and upon continued forward movement of the tube 6 and mandrel 7, the head 7b on the m-andrel 7 will engage the cross bar 20 and forward axial movement of the mandrel 7 will be arrested without undue shock due to the action of the shock absorbers 14 and 15. Fluid pressure for operating the hydraulic cylinders 18 Aand 19 may be provided from any suitable source and also the operation of the hydraulic cylinders 18 and 19 may be controlled in any suitable manner.

Upon engagement of the head 7b of the mandrel 7 with the cross bar 20, the variable speed motors 5 may be operated to drive certain of the rolls 3 of the roller conveyor in a manner to move the tube 6 axially with respect to the mandrel 7, movement of which has been arrested by the cross bar 20 and in this manner the tube 6 may be moved to a predetermined position with respect to the mandrel 7, at which time the motors 5 may be stopped thereby stopping or arresting further axial movement of the tube 6. At this time the tube 6, as well as the mandrel 7 will occupy a predetermined position which will coincide with the positions occupied by succeeding tubes and mandrels and the tube 6 and mandrel 7 may at this time be removed laterally by the transferring means 8 to the lateral conveying means 9 to be conveyed to an apparatus yfor withdrawing the mandrel 7 from the tube 6.

The operation of the motors 5, as well as the operation of t-he lateral transfer means S and lateral conveyors 9 may be controlled by movement of the tube 7 or in any other desired manner and the specific control mechanism forms no part of this invention and any further description `thereof is considered unnecessary.

It will be seen that by the above described invention there has been provided a method and apparat-us for arresting a mandrel and tube discharged from a rolling mill, such apparatus utilizing both the inertia of the tube and mandrel for operation thereof, as well as controllable power actuated means provided as a part of the apparatus and such apparatus serves to arrest forward movement of the tube and mandrel in the shortest possible space and at the same time provides for accurate positioning of the tube and mandrel to facilitate further operations, such as withdrawing the mandrel from the tube.

It will )be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawing and described in the specilicat-ion, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for arresting a mandrel and tube discharged firom a rolling mill, said mandrel having a tongue of reduced diameter terminating in an enlarged head, said apparatus comprising a roller conveyor for receiving said mandrel and tube for axial movement, variable speed means for driving certain of the rolls of said conveyor, mandrel arresting means disposed in alignment with said conveyor intermediate the length thereof, said arresting mean-s comprising a pair of spaced hydraulic shock absorbers pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said conveyor parallel to the path of movement of said mandrel and tube for movement about an axis at right angles Ito the path of movement of said tube and mandrel, a cross bar connecting said shock absorbers, said cross bar having an upwardly opening recess of a size to receive said tongue but smaller than said head and piston and cylinder means for pivotally moving said shock absorbers and said cross 'bar from a position below a mandrel and tube moving axially on said conveyor to a position with said tongue received in said recess, engagement of said head with said cross bar serving to arrest axial movement of said mandrel, axial movement of said tube being arrested by the friction between said arrested mandrel and said tube, and conveyor means for removing the arrested mandrel and tube laterally of said roller conveyor.

2. An apparatus for arresting a mandrel and tube discharged from a rolling mill, said mandrel having a tongue 0f reduced diameter termin-ating in an enlarged head, said apparatus comprising a roller conveyor for receiving said mandrel and tube for axial movement, means for driving certain of the rolls of said conveyor, mand-rel arresting mean-s disposed in alignment with said conveyor intermediate the length thereof, said arresting means cornprising a pair of spaced hydraulic shock absorbers mounted on opposite sides of said conveyor parallel to the path of movement of said mandrel and tube for movement at right angles to the path of movement of said tube and mand-rel, a cross bar connecting said shock absorbers, said cross bar having an upwardly opening recess of a size to receive said tongue but smaller than said head and piston and cylinder means for moving said shock absorbers and said cross bar from a position below a mandrel and tube moving axially on said conveyor to a position with said tongue received in said recess, engagement of said head with said cross bar serving to arrest axial movement of said mandrel, axial movement of said tube being arrested by the friction between said arre-sted mandrel and said tube.

3. An apparatus for arresting a mandrel and tube discharged from a rolling mill, said mandrel having a tongue of reduced diameter terminating in an enlarged head, said apparatus comprising a roller conveyor for receiving said mandrel and tube for axial movement, means for driving certain of the rolls of said conveyors, mandrel arresting means disposed in alignment with said conveyor intermediate the length thereof, said arresting means comprising a shock absorber means disposed parallel to the path of movement of said mandrel and tube for movement at right angles to the path of movement of said tube and mandrel, mean-s on said shock absorber means for engaging said head and means for moving said shock absorber means from a position below a mandrel and tube moving axially on said conveyor to a position with said head engaging means engaging said head to arrest axial movement of said mandrel, axial movement of said tube being arrested by the friction between said arrested mandrel and said tube.

4. An apparatus for arresting a mandrel and tube discharged from a rolling mill, said mandrel having a tongue of reduced diameter terminating in lan enlarged head, said apparatus comprising a roller conveyor for receiving said mandrel and tube for axial movement, mandrel arresting means disposed in alignment with said conveyor, said arresting means comprising engaging means movable into the path of movement of said head for engaging the same, means for moving said engaging means transversely into and out of the path of movement of said head, means mounting said engaging means for movement in said path with said head and including shock` absorbing 6 means disposed parallel to said path and connected to 1,928,811 10/193-3 Burns 80-11 said engaging means -to arrest axial movement of said 2,011,907 8/ 1935 Peters 80-62 head and mandrel, axial movement of said tube being arrested by the friction between said arrested mandrel FOREIGN PATENTS ,and said tube. 5 878,685 10/19412 France.

718,947 3/ 1942 Germany. References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,647,693 11/1927 Hapkins zzo-11 1,837,161 12/1931 Herz 8o- 62 10 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR ARRESTING A MANDREL AND TUBE DISCHARGED FROM A ROLLING MILL, SAID MANDREL HAVING A TONGUE OF REDUCED DIAMETER TERMINATING IN AN ENLARGED HEAD, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A ROLLER CONVEYOR FOR RECEIVING SAID MANDREL AND TUBE FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT, VARIABLE SPEED MEANS FOR DRIVING CERTAIN OF THE ROLLS OF SAID CONVEYOR, MANDREL ARRESTING MEANS DISPOSED IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID CONVEYOR INTERMEDIATE THE LENGTH THEREOF, SAID ARRESTING MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF SPACED HYDRAULIC SHOCK ABSORBERS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID CONVEYOR PARALLEL TO PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID MANDREL AND TUBE FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID TUBE AND MANDREL, A CROSS BAR CONNECTING SAID SHOCK ABSORBERS, SAID CROSS BAR HAVING AN UPWARDLY OPENING RECESS OF A SIZE TO RECEIVE SAID TONGUE BUT SMALLER THAN SAID HEAD AND PISTON AND CYLINDER MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY MOVING SAID SHOCK ABSORBERS AND SAID CROSS BAR FROM A POSITION BELOW A MANDREL AND TUBE MOVING AXIALLY ON SAID CONVEYOR TO A POSITION WITH SAID TONGUE RECEIVED IN SAID RECEIVED, ENGAGEMENT OF SAID HEAD WITH SAID CROSS BAR SERVING TO ARREST AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID MANDREL, AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID TUBE BEING ARRESTED BY THE FRICTION BETWEEN SAID ARRESTED MANDREL AND SAID TUBE, AND CONVEYOR MEANS FOR REMOVING THE ARRESTED MANDREL AND TUBE LATERALLY OF SAID ROLLER CONVEYOR. 